Heel holder for safety ski bindings



Oct. 21, 1969 s. ADAM 3,473,817

HEEL HOLDER FOR SAFETY SKI BINDINGS Filed July 28, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 1E i l l Oct. 21, 1969 G. ADAM 3,473,817

HEEL HOLDER FOR SAFETY SKI BINDINGS Filed July 28, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 27 *1 \Jfi G. ADAM HEEL HOLDER FOR SAFETY SKI BINDINGS Oct. 21,1969

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 28, 1967 Oct. 21, 1969 G, ADAM 3,473,817

HEEL HOLDER FOR SAFETY SKI BINDINGS Filed July 28, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 4Oct. 21, 1969 G. ADAM 3,473,817

HEEL HOLDER FOR SAFETY SKI BINDINGS Filed July 28, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 5III/III" 0ct21, 1969 G. ADAM 3,473,817

HEEL HOLDER FOR SAFETY SKI BINDINGS Filed July 28, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 6flail Q w M United States Patent 3,473,817 HEEL HOLDER FUR SAFETY SKIBINDINGS Gunter Adam, Straubing, Germany, assignor to Hannes Marker,Garmisch-lartenlrirchen, Germany Filed July 28, 1967, Ser. No. 656,887Claims priority, application Germany, Aug. 2, 1966, 70,435 int. Cl. A63c9/08 US. Cl. 28011.35 9 Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A carrier fora sole holder and for a closing pedal is pivoted on an axis disposedbeside the heel and is acted upon by a spring element through theintermediary of a toggle joint. The heel holder automatically assumesits locking position when the skiing boot is inserted into the binding.The heel holder is adapted to be arbitrarily opened, e.g., by slightpressure applied with the ski stick, and to be automatically released inresponse to an excessive upward tensile force, which is approximatelyvertical. The sole holder carrier is mounted on a part fixed to the ski.The pivotal axis of the sole holder carrier is spaced from the soleholder by a larger distance than from the knee of the toggle joint andis non-coincident with either end of the toggle joint. The toggle jointis mounted only at one end on a heel holder part fixed to the ski. Theother end of the toggle joint is pivoted to the carrier for the soleholder and the closing pedal.

The present invention relates to a heel holder for safety ski bindings,which heel holder comprises a carrier for a sole holder and for aclosing pedal, which carrier is pivoted on an axis disposed behind theheel and is acted upon by a spring element through the intermediary of atoggle joint, said heel holder automatically assuming its lockingposition when the skiing boot is inserted into the binding and beingadapted to be arbitrarily opened, e.g., by slight pressure applied withthe ski stick, and to be automatically released in response to anexcessive upward tensile force, which is approximately vertical.

Various types of such heel holder are known. This heel holder hasvarious advantages over other known heel holders having dirTerentprinciples of operation; These disadvantages are due to the use of atoggle joint and consist, e.g., in an increased resistance to icing andan exact release which is not affected by friction.

Whereas the heel holder of the type described hereinbefore has adesirable principle of operation, it is not capable or not adequatelycapable of presenting to the force tending to release the sole holder anelastic resistance and a damping effect, which progressively increaseduntil a predetermined, adjustable release position is reached.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a heel holder forsafety ski bindings, which heel holder has a carrier for a sole holderand for a closing pedal, which carrier is pivoted on an axis disposedbehind the heel and is under the action of a spring element through theintermediary of a toggle joint, said heel holder automatically assumingits locking position when the skiing boot is inserted into the bindingand being adapted to be arbitrarily opened, e.g., by slight pressureapplied with the ski stick, and to be automatically released in responseto an exces sive upward tensile force, which is approximately vertical,which heel holder is designed to reliably avoid the de- 3,473,8l7Patented Got. 21, 1969 scribed disadvantage and can be manufacturedsimply and at low cost.

This is accomplished according to the invention in that the sole holdercarrier is mounted on a part fixed to the ski and its pivotal axis isspaced from the sole holder by a larger distance than from the knee ofthe toggle joint and is non-coincident with either end of the togglejoint, and the toggle joint is mounted only at one end on a heel holderpart fixed to the ski whereas the other end of the toggle joint ispivoted to the carrier for the sole holder and for the closing pedal.

This design affords a large radius for the pivotal move ment of the soleholder so that the latter moves initially also in an approximatelyvertical direction under the infiuence of the approximately vertical,upward tensile force. Diiferent from the known design, in which the soleholder is pivotally moved only on a short radius and disengages the soleto release the boot when the heel has been only slightly lifted from theski, the relatively long movement of the sole holder in a verticaldirection afforded by the invention can be utilized as a long dampingexcursion.

To enable the provision of a heel holder which is as low and slender aspossible, the arrangement is such that the plane of action of the springelement is approximately parallel to the tread of the ski.

The spring element acts on the knee of the toggle joint suitably in adirection which is oblique to the toggle arms. Alternatively, the springelement may act on the knee of the toggle joint in the longitudinaldirection of one toggle arm.

A particularly desirable design of the heel holder will be enabled ifthe spring element consists of a helical compression spring.

In a development of the invention, the heel holder is capable ofapplying pressure to the skiing boot so that the latter is forcedagainst the toe iron as is required with most toe irons on the market.To this end, the heel holder part which carries the sole holder carrierand the toggle joint consists of a slider, which is mounted for alimited sliding movement in the longitudinal direction of the ski on abaseplate, which is fixed to the ski.

In any case, the spring element bears suitably with its end remote fromthe toggle joint on a part which is fixed to the ski so that the springelement may also provide the forwardly directed pressure and a separatespring element is not required for this purpose.

For an arbitrary opening of the heel holder, a lever is suitablyprovided, which may be pivoted on the knee axis of the toggle joint oron a pivot which is fixed to the heel holder part which carries thetoggle joint.

Embodiments of the invention will be described in detail hereinafter byway of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which 7FIG. 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view showing a firstembodiment of the novel heel holder in its locking position,

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the heel holder in its openposition,

FIGS. 3 and 4 are functional diagrams associated with FIGS. 1 and 2,respectively,

FIG. 5 is a central longitudinal sectional view showing the secondembodiment of the heel holder,

FIG. 6 is an elevation showing the heel holder according to FIG. 5 inits open position,

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line VIIVII of FIG. 5,

FIG. 8 is a functional diagram associated with FIG.

FIG. 9 is a central longitudinal sectional view showing a thirdembodiment of the heel holder,

FIG. is an elevation showing the heel holder of FIG. 9 in its openposition,

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on line )fl-X[ of FIG. 9 and FIG. 12is a functional diagram associated with FIG. 9.

The heel holder according to the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 andillustrated in functional diagrams in FIGS. 3 and 4 has a baseplate 1,which is connected by screws to the ski 2. A housng 3 is secured to thebaseplate by means which are not shown. A substantially U-shaped carrier5 for a sole holder 6 and a closing pedal 7 has limbs which are pivotedon two coaxial pivot pins 4, which are held in the side walls of thehousing and extend outwardly. The closing pedal is formed by an angledportion of the carrier. The sole holder 6 is secured to the carrier by abolt 8, which extends through a slot 9 in the carrier so that the soleholder 6 can be adjusted to soles having different thicknesses. Tolocate the sole holder in position, interengaging serrations, elevationsand depressions or the like, not shown, are provided on the mutuallyengaging surfaces of the sole holder and the carrier 5.

A free end of a toggle joint consisting of the two arms 11 and 12 ispivoted in the housing 3 on a pivot 10. The other free end of the togglejoint is pivoted in the carrier 5 by a pivot 13. The two arms 11, 12 ofthe toggle joint are pivotally connected to each other by a pivot 14. Aspring abutment 16 is pivoted by a pin to the arm 11 close to the pivotpin 14 and is provided with an extension 17, on which one end of acompression spring 18 is fitted. The other end of the compression springbears on the housing 3 by a spring abutment 19, which has an extension20, and by the shank of a finger screw 21. The pressure of the spring 18can be varied by the abjustment of the finger screw 21. A two-armedlever 22 is pivoted on the pivot pin 14, which forms the knee of thetoggle joint. The lever 22 serves for an arbitrary opening of the heelholder. The longer arm of the lever extends out of the housing 3 and hasat its free end an engaging portion, e.g., in the form of a bend 23,forming a depression. This portion is adapted to receive the tip of aski stick. The short arm of the lever 22 has at its free end a driver24, which engages the arm 21 of the toggle joint from behind.

The mode of operation of the heel holder will now be described withreference to FIGS. 3 and 4. In FIG. 3, just as in FIG. 1, the movableparts of the heel holder are shown in the position which they assumewhen a skiing boot has been inserted into the binding. This position isdescribed as the locking position. FIG. 4, just as FIG. 2, shows themovable parts of the heel holder in the socalled open position, in whichthe skiing boot can be moved out of the binding. When the heel holder isin its open position and the boot is stepped into the binding, the heelof the boot acts on the closing pedal 7 to move the carrier 5 to thelocking position shown in FIG. 3. The carrier 5 moves pivotally aboutthe point 4. The pivotal movement is opposed by the force of thecompression spring 18 until the toggle arm 12 lies in the plane ofaction of the spring. When the pivotal movement is continued, the forceof the spring acts by means of the toggle joint on the carrier 5 to aidthe pivotal movement. The carrier 5 is then held in its locking positionunder the action of the spring force whereas it was previously held inthe open position under the action of the spring force.

Under the action of an approximately vertically upwardly directedtensile force, the sole holder 6 can perform an upward pivotal movementabout the point 4 against the force of the compression spring 18. As hasbeen mentioned hereinbefore, thet force of the spring 18 is adjustable.When the force acting on the sole holder is reduced, the force of thespring 18 tends to restore the sole holder unless the toggle arm 12 hasbeen swung into the plane of action of the spring. If the force actingon the sole holder is sufiicient to swing the toggle arm 12 beyond theplane of action of the spring, the spring force will act on the soleholder 6 in the opening sense when the toggle arm 12 is passing throughthe plane of action of the spring so that the sole holder 6 isinstantaneously swung to its open position. An immediate release of theheel is thus effected when the sole holder is subjected to an excessivetensile force, which would endanger the skiers leg. The skier can openthe heel holder arbitrarily by moving the lever 12 about the pivot pin14 in the clockwise sense in FIG. 1. To this end, the skier may insertthe tip of the ski stick into the depression formed at the free end ofthe lever 22 protruding from the housing.

The driver 24 provided at the short arm of the lever 22 causes thetoggle arm 12 and with it the carrier 5 to follow a pivotal movement ofthe lever 22. Just as in the case of an automatic release under theinfluence of an excessive force, the force of the compression spring 18acts on the carrier 5 in an opening sense when the toggle arm 12 haspassed through the plane of action of the spring.

The design of the heel holder according to the invention affords a largeradius for the pivotal movement of the sole holder 6. As has been statedhereinbefore, this has the advantage that the sole holder initiallymoves in an approximately vertical direction under the action of theapproximately vertically upwardly directed tensile force.

FIGS. 5 to 8 show a second embodiment of the heel holder according tothe invention. This heel holder comprises a baseplate 31, which issecured to the ski 2 by screws 32. The baseplate has a central recess,which extends in the longitudinal direction of the ski and forms at thesame time a guideway for a housing 33. The housing is formed on itsunderside also with a central recess. which extends in the longitudinaldirection of the ski and in Which one limb of an angle-shaped pressuremember 25 is guided.

A carrier 35 for a sole holder 36 and for a closing pedal 37 is pivotedon two coaxial pivot pins 34, which are held in the side walls of thehousing 33 and extend outwardly. The closing pedal and the carrier areintegral. Just as in the first embodiment, the sole holder 36 is fixedto the carrier by a screw 38. The slot 39 enables again an adaptation tosoles having dilferent thicknesses.

A pivoted member 26 consisting of sheet metal bent in U-shape is mountedby a pivot 40 in the housing 33. A pivot pin 44 is held in the pivotedmember 26 and extends parallel to the pivot 40. One arm 41 of a togglejoint is formed by that portion of each of the limbs of the pivotedmember 26 which is disposed between the pivot pins 40 and 44. The otherarm 42 0f the toggle joint is pivoted by a pin 43 to the carrier 35.Beside the toggle joint 42, a spring abutment 46 is mounted on the pivotpin 44. The spring abutment has an extension 47. on which one end of acompression spring 48 is fitted. The extension has an axial bore 45, inwhich an extension 50 of a second spring abutment 49 is guided. Theother end of the compression spring bears on the spring abutment 49,which bears in turn with a point bearing on the upright limb of thepressure member 25. This pressure member is held by a finger screw '51for adjustment in the longitudinal direction of the ski. The fingerscrew is rotatably mounted in a tapped hole of a vertically upwardlyangled portion of the baseplate 31.

The Web of the pivoted member 26 forms an opening lever 52 for anarbitrary opening of the heel holder. The web extends beyond the limbsand has a free end portion 53, which is angled upwardly to form adepression for receiving the tip of the ski stick.

The heel holder just described has the same principle of operation asthat described with reference to FIGS. 1

to 4. In the embodiment described last, however, the compression springserves not only for holding down th sole holder but also for forcing theboot against the toe iron, as is required with most safety toe irons.

The principle of this heel holder is shown in FIG. 8. Thediagrammatically represented parts have the same reference characters asin FIGS. 5 to 7. FIG. 8 shows the heel holder in locking position. Justas the compression spring of the embodiment described first, thecompression spring 48 opposes a force acting in an opening sense on thecarrier 35. When the toggle arm 42 passes through the plane of action ofthe spring, the latter acts in an opening sense to effect a suddenopening of the heel holder.

The heel holder can be opened arbitrarily, e.g., by means of a ski stickwhen the tip thereof is inserted into the depression at the free end ofthe opening lever 52 and causes the same to perform a pivotal movementabout the pivot 40. The knee 44 is thus moved to the right in thedrawing against the force of the compression spring 48 so that thecarrier 35 can perform an upward pivotal movement. When the neutralposition of the toggle joint has been exceeded, the compression springacts on the carrier in the opening sense. When the boot is stepped intothe binding, the heel of the boot acts on th closing pedal 37 to urgethe carrier 35 to its locking position, just as in the embodimentdescribed first. Before the neutral position is reached, the force ofthe spring opposes the pivotal movement of the carrier. When the neutralposition has been reached, the spring force aids the pivotal movement tothe locking position.

A third embodiment of the heel holder according to the invention isshown in FIGS. 9-12. A baseplate 61 is secured by screws 62 to the ski 2and consists in this case of a sheet metal element, which is folded toform two longitudinal guide rails for a housing 63. Just as in the twoembodiments described hereinbefore, two outwardly extending, coaxialpivot pins 64 are secured in the side walls of the housing 63. A carrier65 for a sole holder 66 and for a closing pedal 67 is pivoted on thepivot pins 64. The closing pedal 67 consists of an angled portion of thecarrier. The sole holder is held on the carrier by a screw 68, whichextends through a slot 69 to enable an adjustment of the sole holder inheight.

In the two embodiments described hereinbefore, the compression springacts on the knee of the toggle joint at an oblique angle to the togglearms. In the present case the compression spring 78 acts on the knee ofthe toggle joint in the longitudinal direction of one toggle arm. Forthis purpose, a spring abutment 76 having an extension 77 forms one armof the toggle joint. Th other arm 72 of the toggle joint is pivoted atits free end to the carrier 65 by the pivot 73. The knee is formed by apivot pin 74, which is mounted in slots 71 of the housing 63 for alimited sliding movement in the longitudinal direction of the ski. Atits end remote from the knee, th compression spring 78 bears on a springabutment 79, which is a part of a screw bolt 80, which extends out ofthe housing 63. The screw bolt is threaded into a finger nut 81, whichis rotatably mounted and held against axial displacement in a verticallyupwardly angled portion of the baseplate 61.

A U-shaped opening lever 82 is mounted by a pivot 70 in the housing 63.Each limb of the U-shaped lever is formed with a slot 75, which receivesone end of the pivot pin 74. The web of the U-shaped lever has an angledextension 83, which forms a depression for receiving the tip of the skistick.

Just as in the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8, thecompression spring 78 in this embodiment serves not only for holdingdown the sole holder but also for forcing the boot against a toe iron.

The finger nut 81 can be actuated to adjust the holdingdown force andthe pressure applied to the toe iron in accordance with personalrequirements.

FIG. 12 shows the principle of operation of this heel holder. Thediagrammatically shown parts have the same reference characters as inFIGS. 9-11. The heel holder is shown in its locking position as in FIG.9. In spite of the change in design compared to the two embodimentsdescribed before, the last embodiment has the same principle ofoperation. When an approximately vertically upwardly directed tensileforce acts on the sole holder 66, the latter can perform an upwardpivotal movement about the point 64 against the force of the compressionspring 78. When the force acting in an opening sense on the sole holderis reduced, the latter is restored under the action of the compressionspring 78. If the force applied is so large that it moves the carrier 65upwardly until the toggle arm 72 is moved through the plane of action ofthe spring, the latter acts in an opening sense on the carrier and thesole holder so that the latter is immediately swung to its open positionto release the heel of the skiing boot.

In this embodiment of the heel holder, the skier can arbitrarily openthe heel holder, e.g., by inserting the tip of the ski stick into thedepression at the free end of the lever 82 so that the latter ispivotally moved in a clockwise sense in FIG. 9 about the pivot 70. Bythe pivotal movement of the lever, the spring 78- is compressed by thepivot 74 forming the knee so that the carrier 65 can be swung upwardly.When the pressure acting on the lever 82 is reduced and the toggle arm72 has moved through the plane of action of the spring, the latter actsin an opening sense on the carrier and holds the same in its openposition. When the boot is stepped into the binding, the heel of theboot acts on the closing pedal 67 to hold the carrier 65 in its lockingposition. This action is initially opposed by the force of thecompression spring 78 and is aided by the same when the carrier hasmoved beyond the neutral position.

What is claimed is:

1. A heel holder for safety ski bindings comprising a sole holdercarrier for a sole holder and for a closing pedal to be pivotallymounted on a ski with its pivotal axis disposed behind the heel of a skiboot to be held thereby, said heel holder automatically assuming itslocking position when the skiing boot is inserted into the binding andbeing adapted to be arbitrarily opened, e.g., by slight pressure appliedwith the ski stick, and to be automatically released in response to anexcessive upward tensile force, which is approximately vertical, a soleholder and a closing pedal mounted on said sole holder carrier, a togglejoint fixed at one end on the ski and having its other end pivotallymounted to the sole holder carrier, and a spring for biasing said togglejoint, the pivotal axis of said sole holder carrier being spaced fromsaid sole holder by a larger distance than the distance from saidpivotal axis to the knee of the toggle joint and being non-coincidentWith either end of the toggle joint.

2. A heel holder for safety ski bindings according to claim 1, whereinthe plane of action of the spring element is approximately parallel tothe tread of the ski.

3. A heel holder for safety ski bindings according to claim 1, whereinthe spring element acts on the knee of the toggle joint at an obliqueangle to the toggle arm.

4. A heel holder for safety ski bindings according to claim 1, whereinthe spring element acts on the knee of the toggle joint in thelongitudinal direction of one toggle arm.

5. A heel holder for safety ski bindings according to claim 1, whereinthe spring element consists of a helical compression spring.

6. A heel holder for safety ski bindings according to claim 1, whereinthe heel holder part which carries the sole holder carrier and thetoggle joint consists of a slider, which is mounted for a limitedsliding movement in the longitudinal direction of the ski on abaseplate, which is fixed to the ski.

7. A heel holder for safety ski bindings according to claim 1, whereinthe end of the spring element which is remote from the toggle jointbears on a part which is fixed to the ski.

8. A heel holder for safety ski bindings according to claim 1, wherein alever which is pivotally movable about the knee of the toggle joint isprovided for an arbitrary opening of the heel holder.

9. A heel holder for safety ski bindings according to claim 1, wherein alever which is pivoted on a pivot is secured in the heel holder partwhich carries the toggle joint serves for an arbitrary opening of theheel holder.

8 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,278,195 10/1966 Salomon.

5 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,299,447 6/1962 France.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner 10 J. A. PEKAR, Assistant Examiner

